Mitsotakis’ Message to Ankara: You Can’t Want SAFE and Threaten with Casus Belli

In New York for the 80th UN General Assembly with a clear goal: to make Greece’s voice heard loudly, build alliances, and promote solutions to international challenges, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in a social media post following his speech at the world’s top diplomatic forum.

The Prime Minister’s visit to New York is viewed positively by government sources, who emphasize that critical messages on the economy, energy, and Greece’s stabilizing geopolitical role were sent from American soil. During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Mitsotakis delivered a firm message to Ankara, urging Turkey to withdraw its threats of war against Greece, underlining that “the way forward is dialogue, not the language of weapons”, while stressing Greece’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with its neighbor.

“You can’t want to join SAFE and maintain a threat of war. You can’t openly threaten a country that is part of the European Union,” Athens stated firmly, setting clear conditions on Turkey’s behavior in light of Ankara’s attempt to join the SAFE program (Security and Peace Agreement in the Eastern Mediterranean).

The cancellation of the planned meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York was attributed to genuine scheduling reasons, as changes are common in such busy international events. Government sources pointed out that “there was no meeting between Erdoğan and the Prime Minister even at the U.S. President’s reception,” while other meetings, like one with Giorgia Meloni, were also canceled for similar reasons.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and Erdoğan in Copenhagen next month is fading, as Ankara appears unlikely to attend the European Political Community Summit in the Danish capital, according to Greek sources.

Diplomatically, communication with the United States is described as good, with Donald Trump being a key interlocutor, and another meeting expected soon. The first encounter with Kimberly Gelfand was also noted as significant, with government officials commenting that she “appeared well-informed on regional issues.”

Regarding the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection, Athens keeps the door open for updates on next steps, while the Cypriot President reaffirmed his country’s active participation in the project.

Libya’s political situation was also a focal point during Mitsotakis’ meeting with the UN Secretary-General, emphasizing the need for a stable government emerging from free elections and the removal of foreign influence. “Turkey has no say in this discussion,” was the clear position expressed by Greece, reaffirming the country’s firm stance in international negotiations.

Responding to opposition criticism over the canceled meeting with Erdoğan, the government stressed that “even when Erdoğan refused to discuss with us, we insisted on keeping communication channels open”, assuring that this did not imply any concession on Greece’s sovereign rights.

Furthermore, special emphasis was placed on active policy on the ground, including marine parks, Greek spatial planning, and confirmed interest from Chevron for investments in the area.

On defense, the Greek side highlighted the significant progress made in recent years with 42 upgraded F-16s in VIPER version, 24 Rafale jets, and inclusion in the F-35 program. “We are strengthening and shielding our Armed Forces to maintain a significant qualitative advantage. We are not defined by others. What needs to be done for the country’s security is being done,” government sources concluded, conveying Athens’ clear message of confidence and determination.

Source: pagenews.gr